The Oral History of Stüssy: Part 2

How the original streetwear brand made it big without compromising its roots, as told by the people who got it where it is today.

Yesterday, Today, Tomorrow...

In the first part of The Oral History of Stüssy, we found out how the company went from a surf brand informed by New Wave graphics and a punk mentality to a downtown New York shopping destination. Thanks to a global network of International Stüssy Tribe members, its influence and popularity spread far beyond the coastal Californian shores where it was initially conceived.

In the late '90s, Stüssy was in a tough spot, business-wise. American customers wanted something different, and voted with their wallets. However, in places like Europe and Japan, the burgeoning hip-hop streetwear movement was just popping off, and becoming the required uniform of modern counter-culture gear. Meanwhile, skate culture was the new thing, and larger companies like Nike hadn't even begun to pay attention yet. Read on to learn how Stüssy remained at the forefront of that movement, and how it helped kick-start the limited-edition sneaker craze.

THE PLAYERS

Everyone is listed with his or her relationship to Stüssy first, followed by their current title.